disconightwing's review
4.0
I had no idea what "choc lit" was before picking this book up. Apparently it's "books where the hero is irresistible like chocolate." Not... really sure what to do with that, I'm not going to lie.
Anyway, apparently this is the second book in a saga, the first dealing with an Englishwoman, Hannah, and her journey to Japan. This can be read as a stand-alone; I didn't feel like this story lacked anything at all without knowing the background, but I might go back and read The Scarlet Kimono later.
Half-Japanese, half-English Midori, daughter of a daimyo, is in danger because of her mixed parentage. The Shogun is trying to purge Japan of all Christians, and while Midori isn't, everyone knows she's the daughter of a gai-jin so she's in danger. Her half brother, Ichiro (fully Japanese and therefore in no danger) arranges passage for her on a ship captained by Nico Noordholt, who isn't thrilled to have her there but gave his word.
The first half of the book took place over Midori's journey to Plymouth and the second, while she is trying to fit in with her English relatives. It starts a bit slowly, but picks up--though don't misunderstand me, this is a romance novel and it's not packed with nonstop action, just attraction that both characters intend to ignore.
Both Nico and Midori have "secrets" but when she finds out what his is, I felt like she overreacted just a little.
I can't say that, coming away from this, I really "got to know" any of the characters beyond the main two characters. I liked Daniel, but the others all sort of blended together. They aren't too central to the storyline but I would have enjoyed this more if it had gone into a bit of detail and didn't just gloss over years of time.
Also, I think having read Shogun sort of changed my opinion of this one a little. They're close to, but not exactly, the same time period (both in the 17th century, though) and all I could think when Midori made it to England was how shocking and horrifying the lice and general lack of cleanliness (at least to the level she was used to) would have been to her, but it seemed like it was hardly touched on. She mentioned being worried about bedbugs once and that her petticoats itched once, but hygiene didn't seem to be a problem.
It all had a sort of "modern" writing style to it, but it wasn't too distracting.
Anyway, apparently this is the second book in a saga, the first dealing with an Englishwoman, Hannah, and her journey to Japan. This can be read as a stand-alone; I didn't feel like this story lacked anything at all without knowing the background, but I might go back and read The Scarlet Kimono later.
Half-Japanese, half-English Midori, daughter of a daimyo, is in danger because of her mixed parentage. The Shogun is trying to purge Japan of all Christians, and while Midori isn't, everyone knows she's the daughter of a gai-jin so she's in danger. Her half brother, Ichiro (fully Japanese and therefore in no danger) arranges passage for her on a ship captained by Nico Noordholt, who isn't thrilled to have her there but gave his word.
The first half of the book took place over Midori's journey to Plymouth and the second, while she is trying to fit in with her English relatives. It starts a bit slowly, but picks up--though don't misunderstand me, this is a romance novel and it's not packed with nonstop action, just attraction that both characters intend to ignore.
Both Nico and Midori have "secrets" but when she finds out what his is, I felt like she overreacted just a little.
Spoiler
She got upset that he didn't tell her that he was her stepcousin, which I understand for the, what, two days before they showed up that he knew about it? But she never told him what her mother's family name was so how was he supposed to explain to her that they were related?I can't say that, coming away from this, I really "got to know" any of the characters beyond the main two characters. I liked Daniel, but the others all sort of blended together. They aren't too central to the storyline but I would have enjoyed this more if it had gone into a bit of detail and didn't just gloss over years of time.
Also, I think having read Shogun sort of changed my opinion of this one a little. They're close to, but not exactly, the same time period (both in the 17th century, though) and all I could think when Midori made it to England was how shocking and horrifying the lice and general lack of cleanliness (at least to the level she was used to) would have been to her, but it seemed like it was hardly touched on. She mentioned being worried about bedbugs once and that her petticoats itched once, but hygiene didn't seem to be a problem.
It all had a sort of "modern" writing style to it, but it wasn't too distracting.
tracisbooks's review
4.0
I had no idea what "choc lit" was before picking this book up. Apparently it's "books where the hero is irresistible like chocolate." Not... really sure what to do with that, I'm not going to lie.
Anyway, apparently this is the second book in a saga, the first dealing with an Englishwoman, Hannah, and her journey to Japan. This can be read as a stand-alone; I didn't feel like this story lacked anything at all without knowing the background, but I might go back and read The Scarlet Kimono later.
Half-Japanese, half-English Midori, daughter of a daimyo, is in danger because of her mixed parentage. The Shogun is trying to purge Japan of all Christians, and while Midori isn't, everyone knows she's the daughter of a gai-jin so she's in danger. Her half brother, Ichiro (fully Japanese and therefore in no danger) arranges passage for her on a ship captained by Nico Noordholt, who isn't thrilled to have her there but gave his word.
The first half of the book took place over Midori's journey to Plymouth and the second, while she is trying to fit in with her English relatives. It starts a bit slowly, but picks up--though don't misunderstand me, this is a romance novel and it's not packed with nonstop action, just attraction that both characters intend to ignore.
Both Nico and Midori have "secrets" but when she finds out what his is, I felt like she overreacted just a little.
I can't say that, coming away from this, I really "got to know" any of the characters beyond the main two characters. I liked Daniel, but the others all sort of blended together. They aren't too central to the storyline but I would have enjoyed this more if it had gone into a bit of detail and didn't just gloss over years of time.
Also, I think having read Shogun sort of changed my opinion of this one a little. They're close to, but not exactly, the same time period (both in the 17th century, though) and all I could think when Midori made it to England was how shocking and horrifying the lice and general lack of cleanliness (at least to the level she was used to) would have been to her, but it seemed like it was hardly touched on. She mentioned being worried about bedbugs once and that her petticoats itched once, but hygiene didn't seem to be a problem.
It all had a sort of "modern" writing style to it, but it wasn't too distracting.
Anyway, apparently this is the second book in a saga, the first dealing with an Englishwoman, Hannah, and her journey to Japan. This can be read as a stand-alone; I didn't feel like this story lacked anything at all without knowing the background, but I might go back and read The Scarlet Kimono later.
Half-Japanese, half-English Midori, daughter of a daimyo, is in danger because of her mixed parentage. The Shogun is trying to purge Japan of all Christians, and while Midori isn't, everyone knows she's the daughter of a gai-jin so she's in danger. Her half brother, Ichiro (fully Japanese and therefore in no danger) arranges passage for her on a ship captained by Nico Noordholt, who isn't thrilled to have her there but gave his word.
The first half of the book took place over Midori's journey to Plymouth and the second, while she is trying to fit in with her English relatives. It starts a bit slowly, but picks up--though don't misunderstand me, this is a romance novel and it's not packed with nonstop action, just attraction that both characters intend to ignore.
Both Nico and Midori have "secrets" but when she finds out what his is, I felt like she overreacted just a little.
Spoiler
She got upset that he didn't tell her that he was her stepcousin, which I understand for the, what, two days before they showed up that he knew about it? But she never told him what her mother's family name was so how was he supposed to explain to her that they were related?I can't say that, coming away from this, I really "got to know" any of the characters beyond the main two characters. I liked Daniel, but the others all sort of blended together. They aren't too central to the storyline but I would have enjoyed this more if it had gone into a bit of detail and didn't just gloss over years of time.
Also, I think having read Shogun sort of changed my opinion of this one a little. They're close to, but not exactly, the same time period (both in the 17th century, though) and all I could think when Midori made it to England was how shocking and horrifying the lice and general lack of cleanliness (at least to the level she was used to) would have been to her, but it seemed like it was hardly touched on. She mentioned being worried about bedbugs once and that her petticoats itched once, but hygiene didn't seem to be a problem.
It all had a sort of "modern" writing style to it, but it wasn't too distracting.
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